Chart of Religious Views of Jesus

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The importance of Jesus is officially recognized not only in traditional Christianity, but also by early Christian sects that were labeled "heresies" and modern Christian religious movements. Even some non-Christian religions such as Islam, the Baha'i Faith, and Cao Dai have official doctrines regarding Jesus. Jesus is also respected by many Buddhists, Hindus, some Jews, and even many atheists. The following chart compares the views of religious groups on who Jesus was and what he came to do.

	God or Man?	Who Jesus Was	Jesus' Purpose	Resurrection?
Traditional (Nicene) Christianity	Both - "fully God and fully man."	Second person of the Trinity, incarnation of God, Son of God, Savior.	Die for the sins of humanity.	Yes
Arianism	Neither; a created divine being.	A divine being, but created by God and inferior to Father. Son of God. Savior.	To save humanity from sin.	Yes
Baha'i Faith	Man	A "manifestation of God" and prophet. Since superseded by Muhammad and Baha'u'llah.	To reveal God's will as part of progressive revelation to humanity.	Only spiritually.
Buddhism	Man	Wise and enlightened man who taught similar things to the Buddha.	To teach humanity wisdom and the way to enlightenment.	Not addressed
Christian Science	Man	Wise man especially attuned to the divine Christ.	To teach humanity, heal, and overcome death.	Yes
Christadelphians	Man (or half-man, half-God).	Son of God but human, because mother was human Mary. Lived a sinless life and died sacrificial death.	To show God's love for humanity and redeem humanity from sin.	Yes
Gnosticism	God	Divine being sent from the supreme God.	To rescue humanity from the material world by revealing true knowledge.	Most Gnostics reject that Christ died at all. The human Jesus was ordinary and did not resurrect.
Hinduism	Views vary	Incarnation of God akin to Krishna, or wise man.	Not addressed	Not addressed
Islam	Man	True prophet sent by God, but superseded by Muhammad.	To reveal God's will in a progressive revelation that ended with Muhammad.	No
Jehovah's Witnesses	Neither; an archangel.	Son of God, Word of God, God's first creation, Archangel Michael.	Teach about God, provide a model for right living, die sacrificially for human sin.	Yes
Mormonism (LDS)	Man	Son of God, Savior, originally one of the spirit beings that all humans used to be. Has a physical body.	To teach about God, provide a model for living, die sacrificially for sin.	Yes
Theosophy	Man	Great teacher.		No
Unitarian Universalism	Man	Great teacher, faith-healer, "incarnation of God's love."	To demonstrate God's love for humanity and teach about justice and compassion.	No official teaching; most do not believe physical resurrection.

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View of Jesus

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